Ore furnace



Aug. 17, 1943. w B FULTON 2,327,101

ORE FURNA C E Filed March 7, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 r1 ventar Wilda/m B Fez Z Aug. 17, 1943. w FULTON 2,327,101

ORE FURNACE File d March 7, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l VzZZz'zm B742 0 W mm W. B. FU LTON ORE FURh IACE Aug. 17, 1943.

Filed March 7, 1942 3 Sheet s-Sheet 3 I m'eumr mam, amid",

MH/QYS Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE can FURNACE "l l illiarn B. Fulton, GateCity, Va.

Application March 7, 1942, Serial No. 433,778 1 Claim. (or. zooei) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in ore furnaces particularly for extracting metal from iron and manganese ore and has for itsprimary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which eliminates the usual high, heavy column of ore. g p

Another important object of the invention is to provide an ore furnace of the aforementioned character which is adapted to use pulverized coal asfuel. 4

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an ore furnace of the character described whichcomprises'novel means for re ceiving the molten slag and iron, and for settling the latter.

Another very important object of the inven tion residues in the provision of a unique system whereby the slag and iron are taken from the aforementioned receiving means and immediately formed, respectively, into bricks or blocks and pigs.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an ore furnace of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in operation, compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in vertical longitudinal sec tion through an ore furnace constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through one of the block: molds and the carriage on which it is moved.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a refractory lined cylinder I which is rotatably mounted on supports 5. The cylinder I may be rotated the desired speed by any suitable means. Also, the rotary cylinder I may be of any suitable dimensions.

" As illustrated to advantage in Figure l of the drawings'ythe rotary cylinder is inclined toward its discharge end. The upper end portion of-therotary cylinder {projects into a refractory lined stack 2--with which said rotary cylinder communicates. The'ore is delivered into the rotary cylinder I at the upper end thereof by means including an endless conveyor 3 and a chute Al, the latter extending through the movement a vertical pl'anebetween the upper.

portions of the receptacles 6 and positioned beneath the lower end of the-'rotary'cylinder I for 7 receiving the slag and metal therefrom is atrough I, which trough may also be refractory lined. The construction, and arrangement is such that the material from the cylinder I may be selectively directed into either of the receptacles 6.

Mounted on the upper portions of the receptacles 6 is a pair of rails ll which are aligned with the rotary cylinder 'I. Mounted on the tracks 8 is a wheel or roller supported refractory lined, removable closure 9 for the lower end portion of the cylinder i. Suitable stops it retain the closure 9 inthe lower end portion of the cylinder I. The lower portion of the closure 9 is formed to provide a passage It for the material as it flows from the cylinder I. peep window it is provided in the closure 9. The closure 9 is further provided, in its upper portion, with an opening which accommodates a fuel injecting nozzle IS. The nozzle i3 is adapted to discharge pulverized coal through the medium of compressed air from a suitable source into the rotary cylinder I. Of course, other suitable fuel, such as natural gas, may be used.

In the embodiment shown, and as best seen in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, the swinging trough I is fixed on a bracket M which, in turn, is fixed on a shaft Ill. The shaft I5 is journaled in a pair of bars Iii which extends between the receptacles 6. An operating handle I l is provided on one end portion of the shaft I 5.

The lower portion of the receptacles 6 are provided with sla outlets I 8. Below the slag outlets I8, the receptacles 6 are further provided with iron outlets I55. Extending transversely ad- Jacent the receptacles 6 is a track 28. Cars or carriages 2I are operable on the track 22}, said cars or carriages comprising fiat tops which are adapted to receive and support removable brick or block molds 22. The carriages EI are adapted A sight or to position the molds 22 beneath the outlets 18 of the receptacles 6 for receiving the molten sla therefrom. Any suitable means may'be provided for receiving the iron from the outlets l9 and conveying said iron to sand molds (not shown) to be formed into pigs.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the ore, entering the inclined rotating. cylinder L at the upper end thereof, flows by gravity toward the lower end of said cylinder. Of course, the ore is heated to the necessary temperature during its passage through the cylinder I. A the molten slag and iron are discharged from the lower end of the cylinder through the passage it they are directed into one of the receptacles 6 by the trough T. When this receptacle has been filled. to the desired level the trough 'l', is swung over for directing the slag and iron into the other receptacle. While the second receptacle is filling the iron, in the first receptacle settles below the comparativelylight slag. The iron which is thus separated removed. at 1-5 andimmediately deposited in sand molds to beformed, into pigs while'the slag is discharged at [B into one of the molds22 to be formed into bricks or blocks. or course, this operation is-repeated when the second receptaole B has been filled. A suitable bar 23 is provided for levelling the slag at the tops of the chambers or compartments of the molds 22. The closure 9v may be conveniently removed to facilitate relining the rotary cylinder 4 or for any other purpose. Any suitable means. may be provided for sealing the joint between the rotary cylinder 1 and the stack 2.

Furnaces now in general use requi e ore, limestone and coke that will pass over a. 3-inch screen, anything smaller retarding the passage of the hot gases through the mass, and sometimes causing violent explosions of gases above said mass. My blast furnace not only eliminates such explosions, but also other objections to present furnaces, such, for example, as the heavy mass of material 75 or more feet high above the tuyeres bearing down on the bottom of the furnace and causing a dead space, of. from 12 to. 15 feet between the tuyres, where no smelting is done except by the heat of the molten metal. My furnace requires comparatively fine material, such as that which will pass through a half-inch screen.

It is believed that the many advantage of an ore furnace constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be comprising a rotary, inc-lined cylinder for the reception of material, means for discharging material intosaid cylinder at the upper end thereof, means adjacent the lower end of the cylinder tor receiving the material therefrom, means for v heating the material in the cylinder, a pair of rails at. the lower end of the cylinder projecting longitudinally thereinto, and. a wheel supported closure for the lower end of the cylinder operable on said rails and engageable in said cylinder.

WILLIAM B. FULTON. 

